Behavioral Health Specialist

Behavioral Health Specialist

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services.

Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides primary community support/case management to mentally ill, homeless, and substance abuse Sea Mar clients. This person participates actively as a team member in the delivery of client services, and the coordination of community support services. This job description does not suggest or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. Minor variations in duties will vary depending to what department the Behavioral Health Specialist is assigned.

The person in this position will be required to follow other instructions and to perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Able to identify and categorize each patient's age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
• Conducts intake screenings to determine client's need for case management. Interviews client, (either in home or at clinic) performing systematic social services assessment to determine current status and needs in a variety of areas. Makes a Client Service Plan with each client for each activity that will be done with the client.
• Makes referrals, based on identified need, to appropriate agencies/services or provides information and assists client for self-referral.
• Maintains regular contact with client, including home visits, and provides advocacy as needed to encourage cooperation in implementing the Service Plan or to resolve problems which are interfering with active participation in plan (such as transportation or language barrier).
• Maintains files that document case management activities as required by the State and the clinic. Assists client in accomplishing necessary tasks in accessing services such as filling out appropriate forms, obtaining necessary documentation or authorization and finding transportation.
• Participates in regular interdisciplinary team case reviews.
• Will promote a positive team approach. Team member will collaborate with all staff members to provide comprehensive services that are individualized to best serve each client and will welcome and orient all new staff and visitors in a positive manner.
• Maintains professional standards and follows the treatment policies and procedures of the agency, as well as applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Completes daily record keeping as directed by the Program Manager. Reports any unusual incidents to the Program Manager. As the Behavioral Health Specialist is a State mandated reporter, he/she will report to the State any suspected case of child/elder abuse or neglect as mandated by WAC.
• Observes and assesses clients' basic needs, strengths and weaknesses, and refers client to appropriate department as needed.
• Participates in supervision as directed and provided.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The person in this position must be of good character and able to maintain the understanding, physical health, emotional stability and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the population served.

This person must have the capacity to establish a liaison relationship with community resources and provide outreach service to clients.

Must have good organizational and communication skills.

Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate boundaries in all interactions.

The candidate must demonstrate respect and appreciation for diversity and have an understanding of the community system.

The Behavioral Health Specialist must have demonstrated experience with, and the ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, team members, and community providers.

Ability to work in a team.

Disposition to receive and give constructive criticism.

The person in this position shall have no history or…